A new ANC leadership has been elected, but what happens now? The commissions on organisational renewal as well as strategy and tactics have met, discussed, and reported back on the plan for the next few years.
Setumo Stone narrows down the most important things you need to know:
• The two centres of power – Jacob Zuma as head of government and Cyril Ramaphosa as head of the ANC – will be managed by the national executive committee. The ANC takes decisions and gives those deployed in government a clear programme of what needs to be done. The new national executive committee (NEC) will decide Zuma’s future, including whether or not to recall him, if it has to. The principle is that there must not be tension.
• There must be no dominance of Cabinet in the power structures of the ANC like the NEC and national working committee. The ANC seeks to put a cap on the number of people from these structures who are allowed to serve in Cabinet. Conference agreed in principle.
• The integrity commission must be given full and original powers in the constitution of the ANC. The commission must have bite. The commission must exercise its powers without consulting the national executive committee. Decisions of the commission must be final and binding. The NEC appoints the integrity commission.
• Public Protector recommendations, like a judicial commission on state capture, need to be implemented expeditiously. Conference reaffirmed the NEC decision that the commission must be implemented hastily.
• The age of youth league leaders must be reduced to not exceed 35 years. The number may need to be slashed because the youth league members are getting younger.
• A permanent elections commission must be established and must not be composed of elected leadership.
• The proposal that ANC members vote directly for NEC members will be up for discussion at the national general council in 2020.
• Those contesting the election must declare their interests and where they get the money to fund their campaigns.
• Conference resolved that consideration must be given to extend the issue of gender equity on leadership positions, particularly in the top six structure.
• Conference resolved to continue to build a strong alliance and urgently convene the political council to discuss the reconfiguration of the alliance.
• The issue of “consensus” would be ratified in the ANC’s constitution.